Stoddert Elementary School and Community Center, Washington, D.C.

Best K-12

Photo courtesy EE&K

The school re-opened just 19 months after design work started on the 47,000-sq-ft addition.

Just 19 months after EE&K first started design work, the Stoddert Elementary School and Community Center in Washington, D.C., reopened. The existing 17,900-sq-ft building received a 47,000-sq-ft addition that honors the existing architecture, completes the original 1932 master plan and incorporates sustainable design.

Stoddert features 14 modernized and new classrooms, a gymnasium, a media center, a cafeteria and a multi-purpose art/science room.

Projected to achieve LEED for Schools Gold, the building features optimized acoustics, enhanced indoor air quality and pervasive natural light. Moreover, the school's design engages students and the community in understanding how the design conserves resources.

Sean O'Donnell, principal with EE&K, a Perkins Eastman company, says the efforts of numerous team members proved critical.

For example, O'Donnell says, “The M/E/P engineer coordinated with the architect to develop a building that conserved water and energy and was well day-lit; the civil consultant addressed the topography of the site and created great indoor-outdoor learning opportunities, such as the amphitheater; the acoustician helped to 'tune' the classrooms to ensure the quality of the learning environment; and the builder worked to complete everything on schedule.”

Owner: D.C. Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, Washington, D.C.

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting, Bethesda, Md.

Architect: EE&K, A Perkins Eastman Co., Washington, D.C.

Civil Engineer: A. Morton Thomas and Assoc., Washington

Structural Engineer: KTLH Engineers, Washington, D.C.

MEP Engineer: Setty & Associates, Fairfax, Va.

Submitted by:

EE&K

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.